Monterey— boasts more historic sites than any other city west of Williamsburg. In 2006 Monterey, California was name one of America’s "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Monterey rivals any city in the United States for heritage, culture, natural history and Scenic Beauty," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Read more here.
Monterey - the very name speaks to romance. The images of sinuous, fiery-dancing, dark-eyed beauties in lacy mantillas, caballeros astride spirited, prancing horses -- even its history abounds with romanticism.
The first European to see its pine-covered hills was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo of Portugal. He sailed its bay in 1542 but was prevented from landing due to high seas. Sixty years later, another explorer, Sebastian Vizcaino of Spain, was able to land. He named the area for his patron, the Count of Monte Rey. The name translated literally from Spanish means, “Mountain of the King”.
In the late 1700’s came Caspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra. The first to build a presidio (fort) and the second to build a mission.
With military and ecclesiastical power established, Monterey was proclaimed the capital of Alta (Upper) California. Spanish rule ended in 1822 and for the next 24 years, Monterey became the Mexican capital.
In 1846, Commodore John Sloat claimed California for the United States.
During Spanish and Mexican rule, pioneering Americans arriving by land and sea married into local families. Many of them would become the political and commercial elite, lending their names to the now-famous “Path of History”.
Time and neglect has eaten away at the adobe buildings’ thick picturesque walls and stone walkways. However, some still remain -- the most famous of which are The Custom House (1827) and the The Casa del Oro (1845) which was built as a general store and tavern. Later, it would become California’s First Theater.
Then there were the writers -- Robert Louis Stevenson, Jack London, Richard Dana, John Steinbeck -- who would eulogize this sleepy fishing village into a first class tourist attraction.
So, come walk the paths of history. Back to a time that was and is no more.
Even if you don’t know the rich history of the state’s first capital, you can sense it in the adobe architecture, the Italian markets, the fishing boats and rustic signs on Cannery Row. You can see it in the local museums, the public art, and the historical trails along the storied shoreline.
As one steps out of the Monterey Conference Center they find they are centered in one of the most historic towns in the United States. To the north of the Conference Center lies Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Lower Presidio Historic Park; to the south, the Old Town Historic District. Within the historic district the Spanish, Mexican and Californio traditions, combine with early American influences to offer architecture, culture, and a history of California not found anywhere else on the West Coast.
One of the best ways to experience the historic district is to follow the PATH OF HISTORY. Created in the early 1930s as a driving tour, today, the path is a walking tour that leads one through the historic old town, highlighting adobes, government buildings, private homes, hidden gardens and historic sites. Easy to follow maps correspond to multilingual tiles that are embedded in the sidewalks, helping the visitor to navigate the 2 1/2 mile circuitous route.
Sites along the path includes, the Royal Presidio Chapel, began in 1770 and completed in 1795, it is the oldest church in California. The Custom House, where from 1822 to 1846 duties were collected for Alta California and where on July 7, 1846 Commodore Sloat raised the American Flag sizing all of California for the United States. Colton Hall, constructed between 1847 and 1849, it was the first public building in California and the site of the 1849 California Constitutional Convention; it is the site where California became a state. The Larkin House, created by Thomas O. Larkin who combined architectural features characteristic of New England with Mexican architectural features, such as adobe walls and overhanging roofs, creating a distinctive architectural style known as Monterey Colonial. California’s First Theater, the Old Whaling Station, Old Monterey Jail, and numerous adobes are just a few of the historic sits along the path.
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help the visitor explore old Monterey, one of the most interesting and important historical areas in the Western United States.
The history of Monterey reviles any city in the United States for its deep-rooted history and culture. Monterey is one of the few cities that offers historical sites that reflect the Native Americans, who lived in the area for thousands of years before the Europeans; the Spanish colonization of California followed by the Californio tradition that is associated with Mexican California. And, the American occupation in 1846 that led to statehood.
The sound of bugles and drums and the clatter of horse shoes rang through Monterey as infantry, cavalry and artillery units made the Presidio of Monterey their home. Always a military town, Monterey was the site of the first Presidio in California, the site of the only naval and land battle ever fought on the west coast and the oldest Army fort west of the Rocky Mountains.
Following statehood Monterey found itself a caldron for cultural diversity. Beginning with the Portuguese and Chinese, who were followed by the Japanese, the fishing industry became a mainstay of Monterey’s economy. The Italians and Sicilians transformed the fishing industry making Monterey the Sardine Capital of the World. This transformation inspired John Steinbeck to produce some of his most memorable works. Built in 1880, the Hotel Del Monte was one of the most fashionable resorts in America attracting Presidents, Royalty and distinguished visitors from around the world.
To learn more about Monterey’s deep historical roots, we encourage you to visit the following links: